Rolling suitcases may be great for air travel, but travel duffel bags are ideal for road trips. Easy to pack and transport, a road trip duffel bag is perfect for spontaneous weekend trips while versatile enough to do double duty as airline luggage.
Before you invest in a new road trip duffel bag, here are a few considerations:
What to Look for in a Travel Duffel Bag
With their flexible shapes and soft exteriors, duffel bags are easy to store in the trunk of your car. When choosing your car travel bag, prioritize durability — otherwise, you may have to replace it sooner than desired.
Research how much the brand stands behind their luggage. For example, Travelpro® luggage has several types of warranties, depending on the luggage collection, including a Built For A Lifetime Limited Warranty that covers broken zippers, straps, and carrying handles.
You’ll also want to consider how you plan on using your duffel. This will help you narrow down the size and number of compartments you’ll need. Will you pack for a beach vacation, weekend camping trip, or cross-country adventure?
Why Duffel Bags are Perfect for Weekend Trips
A travel duffel bag is ideal for weekend trips by car, plane, or both. Duffel bags come in all different shapes and sizes, including bags that meet airline carry-on size restrictions. With the best duffel bags for travel, you can move seamlessly from plane to rental car and back again.
If you’re planning an extended road trip, you don’t have to worry about carry-on bags and overhead bins. Instead, you want a duffel that holds what you need without weighing you down. If you have the space, err on the side of larger road trip bags since the flexible material of duffel bags has enough give to fit into awkward spaces.
When comparing duffel bag sizes, ask yourself these three questions:
- How long is the duration of my trip?
- How much space will I need to pack everything?
- How much room will there be in the car for my luggage, especially if friends or family bring their own bags?
Packing Your Duffel Bag for Travel
Sturdy, flexible materials like canvas and ballistic nylon make duffels perfect car travel bags for road trip packing, especially if you’re packing soft items that can handle being squashed into the corner of a car trunk. The flexible nature of duffel bags also makes them perfect for packing oddly shaped items, as the bags have some stretch. Surround fragile items with tightly rolled clothing for extra padding, and use small items like socks to fill in empty corners. Packing cubes help keep your clothing and other items organized, while shoe bags help keep dirt and dampness away from your clean clothing.
If you’re travelling for business, you might want a duffel that doubles as a road trip organizer – with added features like a garment folder that keeps professional attire wrinkle-free and ready to go when you arrive.
If you’re heading out on a sporting adventure or packing items that may get soiled, look for a bag with separate compartments to store wet items, dirty shoes, or sporting goods. Also, consider your carrying options, like shoulder straps and stacking straps. There are even road trip rolling duffel bags you don’t have to pick up!
The Best Duffel Bags For Road Trips
Whether you’re packing for a weekend or weeks on end, these Travelpro® road trip bags are the perfect companions for a variety of uses:
- The Platinum® Elite Regional Underseat Duffel Bag is an all-in-one bag designed for short trips or as an accessory to other suitcases. A built-in strap slips over the extension handle of any rolling bag for secure stacking and hands-free mobility.
